Child Protection Officer, NO-A, Prishtina, Kosovo

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

I. Post Information

Job Title: Child Protection Officer Level: NO-A Duty Station: Prishtina / Kosovo Contract Duration: 364 days

II. Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Job organizational context:

The UNICEF Kosovo office has started the implementation of its new Kosovo Programme 2021-2025, contributing also to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. One of the main components of the UNCEF programme includes interventions that aim to strengthen the Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Children in Kosovo through cross-sectoral coordinated actions to be implemented from the perspectives of social and child protection, health and education that are aiming at strengthening the systems response and improvement of the overall situation of vulnerable children. UNICEF Kosovo Office during the whole 2020-21 has also been strongly involved in the support to the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing emergency support including vaccine preparedness and roll-out as well as continuity of support on essential prevention and protection services for affected families and their vulnerable children aiming their resilience during and post situation with COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose for the job:

The Child Protection Officer will report to the Child Protection Officer.

The Child Protection Officer will manage and coordinate the overall implementation of project activities and will take part in organization and execution of them. He/she will prepare progress and final project reports. Moreover, he/she will supervise project’s progress and ensure that all issues related to the project are clarified and completed to avoid confusion and interruption during execution.

Under the purpose of respecting and acquiring organizational knowledge of rules, regulations and processes the Child Protection Officer will also provide professional technical, operational and organizational assistance throughout the course of project implementation.

III. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Support to programme development and planning
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
4. Networking and partnership building

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

   1. Support to programme development and planning

• Research and analyze Kosovo and regional political, social, economic development trends. Collect, analyze, verify, and synthesize information to facilitate programme development, design and preparation.
• Support the Ministry of Finance Labor and Transfers, Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Prime ministers Advisory Office of Good Governance, Kosovo Agency of Statistics, Municipal Directorates, Centers for Social Work and CSOs-DPOs, in planning and overall programming on child protection during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Prepare technical reports and inputs for programme preparation and documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevancy of information.
• Facilitate the development and establishment of sectoral programme goals, objectives, strategies, and results-based planning through analysis of Child Protection needs and areas for intervention and submission of assessments for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and administrative support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing and administering a variety of technical programme transactions, preparing materials and documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Prepare required documentations and materials, lead and facilitate the process for establishing the programme cooperation agreements with Implementing Partners and ensure that review and approval process are conducted as per procedures and processes in place and on timely manner.

2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results.

• Management and day to day coordination on the implementation of the activities foreseen under Child Protection
• Supervise and update regularly on the project’s progress and ensure that all issues related to the project are clarified and completed to avoid confusion and interruption during execution.
• Preparation of the progress and final project reports through ensuring coordinated contribution and provision of inputs from other relevant colleagues and sectors.
• Coordination of and ensure implementation of regular field monitoring visits to the project sites. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management and stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with governments and other counterparts and prepare minutes/reports on results for follow up action by higher management and other stakeholders.

  3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation

• Provide technical expertise, support to the processes, guidance and advise on project implementation through close work with project partners, direct and indirect stakeholders.

• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners, and other UNICEF Kosovo Office partners/donors on the implementation of the project and programme as well as on application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices on social inclusion issues to support programme implementation, operations and delivery of results.

  4. Networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with social, protection, education and health sector government counterparts and other Kosovo stakeholders, through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results for vulnerable children.

• Draft communication and information materials for the Child Protection programmme and support advocacy leveraging to promote awareness raising, establish partnerships/alliances, and creation of joint synergies on influencing results and positive change.

• Participate in inter-agency meetings/events on programming to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues, including on UNSDCF operational planning and preparation of child protection and education programmes/projects, and to integrate and harmonize UNICEF’s position and strategies with UNSDCF development and planning processes.

  5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
• Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients and stakeholders.

IV. Impact of Results

The efficiency and efficacy of support provided by the Child Protection Officer to programme preparation, planning and implementation, contributes to the achievement of sustainable results to create a protective environment for children against harm and all forms of violence, and ensures their survival, development and well being in society. Success in child protection and education programmes and projects in turn contributes to maintaining and enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to provide programme services for mothers and children that promotes greater social equality in the country.

V. Competencies and level of proficiency required (based on UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles)

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (2)

VI. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

A university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field.

Experience: A minimum of one year of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection related areas is required.

Experience working in the Child Protection, Education or Social Inclusion programmes in Kosovo or another relevant context, it considered an asset.

Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of local language (Albanian and Serbian) is an asset.